Philadelphia becomes largest US city to decriminalize marijuana

​Philadelphia has decriminalized small amounts of marijuana in the city, reducing penalties for possession and public use to minor fines and community service. The move makes Philadelphia the largest city in the United States to decriminalize pot.

Mayor Michael Nutter
signed the legislation on Wednesday, making the possession of 30
grams or less a civil offense. Though the law, which will go into
effect on Oct. 20, does not legalize marijuana in the
city.

Those found in
possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana will be cited and
fined $25. Smoking pot in public can result in a citation and a
$100 fine, or nine hours of community service,accordingto The Inquirer. Possessing more
than 30 grams is still a criminal offense in the city, and anyone
caught with marijuana who cannot show identification will still
be arrested.

Nutter also announced an
outreach campaign to educate citizens on the new law. The mayor
also pledged support for efforts to re-examine criminal records
of those convicted for possession of small amounts of pot.

City Councilman James
Kenney, sponsor of the bill, hailed the legislation as a way to
address, among other issues, disproportionate marijuana arrests
in the African-American community, which has resulted in criminal
records that reduce job opportunities, among other
effects.

"The most important
thing here is to keep kids on a straight line and not allow
someone's life to get screwed up because of a mistake when they
were young,” Kenney said, according to The Inquirer.

Neither Nutter nor
Kenney advocated use of marijuana.

"I'm not advocating
anything in excess, except prayer,” said Kenney, who offered
the legislation in May and helped finalize thebill’s passagein September.

Mayor Nutter also touted
the city’s drug-abuse health programs.

"We want to make
sure people know it is still against the law to possess and use
marijuana in Philadelphia, and that it can have serious
consequences if you are convicted," he said. "However,
many Philadelphians are in fact looking for help. We want to get
them that help they need."

While critical of the
legislation in the past, NuttertoldCBS News recently that he changed
his mind given the amount of punishment so many citizens have
garnered for possession of such small amounts of pot.

Many USstates and
citieshave approved
various forms of marijuana decriminalization over the past
several decades. Most recently, the District of Columbia’s
decriminalization efforts wereheld upthis summer by Congress based on
powers vested in the Home Rule Act, which gives the US House of
Representatives the ability to block legislation approved by the
city’s elected leaders. If ultimately passed, the legislation
would give Washington, DC theleast punitivemarijuana laws outside of states
that have legalized its use.

In the US, only Colorado
and Washington state have passed laws legalizing the cultivation,
sale, and use of recreational marijuana even though federal
officials still consider pot to be a Schedule 1 narcotic.
Colorado shops officially began selling it on January 1 after
voters approved a ballot initiative in November 2012. Washington
state began selling legal recreational marijuanain July.